Wrapping device



Sept. 13, 1960 M.vo. scHuR WRAPPING DEVICE:

3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 6, 1957 INVENTOR. Milton O. Schur ATTORNEKSmi (LLM will /aa/wmw #Jaffa-L Sept. 13, 1960 M. o. scHuR 2,952,105

WRAFPING DEVICE Filed Aug. e, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 2 FIG 4 lp 14 (56 (5e/22 (se ,/20/74 lOO INI/ENTOR. BY Milton O. Schur A TTORNEY' M. C. SCHURWRAPPING DEVICE Sept. 13, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed Aug. 6, 1957 WRAPPING DEVICE Milton 0. Schur, Asheville, N .C.,'assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, New Haven, Conn., acorporation of Virginia Filed Aug. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 676,528

Claims. (Cl. 53-32) This invention relates to a Wrapping machine, andmore particularly to la machine for wrapping sheet material, such aspaper, around a plurality of axially aligned cylindrical members to forma unit, or package.

While the invention may be used for wrapping a number of different typesof cylindrical articles, I have ydesigned it for use in Wrapping iiltertip sections in the manufacture of laminated cigarette filter tip-s. Inmy copending application Serial No. 578,989, led April 18, 1956, -nowPatent No. 2,882,970, I have disclosed a method of manufacturinglaminated filter tips in which rods of'multiple filter length are cutinto sections, the sections aligned with sections of one type in end toend relation with sections of the second type to provide an assembly ofsuch sections, the assembly wrapped to form a composite filter tip rodof a plurality of alternately arranged sections, and the rod then cut toform double. laminated filter tips. The present invention relates toapparatus for wrapping such assemblies of alternate filter tip sectionsto produce a composite lter tip rod. Y

In carrying `out the invention, paper is delivered from a bobbin to aWrapping roll, the Width of the paper being substantially equal to thelength of a filter tip rod. As it is delivered to the roll, the paper iscutV into lengths slightly greater than the circumference `of the ltertip sections that are to be wrapped. These strips of paper are retainedon the wrapping roll by suction. The surface of the roll is providedwith spaced pockets to receive the lter tip assemblies. Each Vstrip ofpaper fed to the roll extends over one of these pockets. A transfer rolldelivers the lter tip units to the pockets of the wrapping roll as itrotates, and ras each unit is delivered into a pocket, the paperwrapping is forced into the pocket around a substantial portion of thecircumference of the unit. At another point in the rotation of thewrapping roll, the unit is forced out of the pocket, and is engaged by aroll or belt traveling at `a greater speed than the Wrapping roll. Thisrotates the partially wrapped unit and completes the wrapping operation.

The mechanism provides a relatively simple means which, while adaptedprimarily to the wrapping of lter tip sections to produce compositefilter tip rods, is also useful for wrapping assemblies of othercylindrical articles arranged in axial alignment. The device is one thatrequires a minimum of maintenance and repair to keep Fig. 4 is adetailed, sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a portion of the wrapping roll and spinroll, on an enlarged scale;

fFig. 6 is a detailed, sectional view of the transfer roll on line 6-6of Fig. l; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a composite lter rod.

The use of the apparatus forming the subject matter of the presentinvention will be described in connection with the manufacture ofcomposite lter rods. As shown in Fig. 7, such rods may consist ofalternate filter tip sections 1 and 2 arranged in an outer wrapper 3.Such filter tip sections may be formed of any suitable material ormaterials as .the construction of the filter tip, per se, forms no partof the present invention. The sections 2, which ultimately become theend of the cigarette that is placed in .the smokers mouth, may be a tubethat forms a mouthpiece, or it may contain ltering material. In Fig. 7 Ihave shown a composite rod formed of seven lter tip sections, with asection 1 on each end. The provision of a composite rod of sevensect-ions is arbitrary land is used for illustration, because it isemployed in the industry at the present time.

Assemblies of such sections without the outer wrapper are first formedby the apparatus and method of my prior application, Serial No. 578,989,or by other suitable means, and are delivered to pockets 10 equallyspaced on the periphery of a transfer roll 12. The transfer rollconsists of a shell and in the illustration, rotates counterclockwisearound a stationary shaft 14 (see Fig. 6).` The roll is keyed to andrevolves with a sleeve 16 which surrounds the shaft and is driven in anysuitable manner.

The assemblies in pockets 10 are retained in place by a` shield 18 untilthey reach the point Where they are transferred to the wrapping roll 20.

Wrapping roll 20 is likewise provided with spaced pockets 22V into whichthe assemblies are delivered.

Prior to delivery of each assembly to a pocket of the it in operablecondition, and is therefore particularly usewrapper roll, a strip ofpaper, which forms the wrapper 3, is positioned over the pocket. Asshown, a web of paper 24 is fed from a bobbin or reel (not shown)between a pair of pinch rolls (not shown) to the surface of wrappingroll 20. The width of the paper is equal to the length of the compositefilter rod, and as it is de livered to the wrapping roll, it is cut intostrips of a length slightly greater than the circumference of the filterrods to provide suflicient overlap to permit the edges to be secured toeach other by a suitable adhesive. The paper is held against the surfaceof the Wrapping roll by suction. As shown (see Fig. 3) two transverserows of openings 26 are provided in advance of each pocket 22 and onetransverse row of openings 28 is arranged behind each pocket. A kniferoll 30 is arranged adjacent the wrapping roll just beyond the point ofdelivery of the paper web. Knives 32 are arranged on this roll and theycooperate with hardened steel inserts 34 on the Wrapping roll to severstrips 3 from the web. The pinch rolls which feed the web to thewrapping roll travel at a slightly lower surface speed than the wrappingroll. Thus gaps are formed between the strips of paper on the Wrappingroll. roll from the point Where they are cut toward the point wheretransfer roll 12 and the wrapping roll approach each other, and eachpocket 10 on the transfer roll comes into alignment with a pocket 22 onthe Wrapping roll. At that time, a strip .3 is arranged over each pocketextending from the insert 34, preceding the pocket to the insert 34following the pocket, as shown at the bottom of the wrapping roll inFig. 1.

Suitable means are provided for ejecting the assembly of filter tipsections from the pockets 10 into pockets 22.

Patented sept. 1s, 1960,

The strips travel on the Wrapping An ejector bar 36 -is arranged in eachpocket (see Fig. 6). The ejector bars are carried by rods 38 which passthrough openings 40 in the shell of the drum. The inner ends of rods 38carry a pin or shaft I4-2 on wh-ich is mounted a pair of rollers 44.Rollers 44 engage cam 46 (see Figs. 1 and `6) to raise the ejector barflush with the surface of the roll 12 and deliver the assembly intopocket 22 of the wrapping roll. Cam 46 is mounted on stationary shaft 14and has its high area 48 positioned to raise the ejector bars 36 at theproper point in the Irevolution of the transfer roll l2. As shown, inFig. l, the shield 18 terminates ahead of this point to permit thetransfer of the assembly to the wrapping roll. Ejector bars 36 areretained in retracted position during the period that rollers 44 are fedout of contact with cam 46 by springs 50. As shown, the springs surroundrodsy 38 between the shell ofthe roll and shaft '42.

As the ejector bar is raised to the position of the middle one shown inFig. 1, it pushes the assembly of filter tip sections into the alignedpocket 22. The paper strip 3 is forced into the pocket surrounding theportion of the assembly that is within the pocket. The pair of rows 26of suction ports in advance of the pocket exerts a greater holding forceon the strip than is exerted by the single row 28 behind the pocket. Asa result, the trailing edge of the paper moves, and assumes ya positionat the upper, rear edge of the pocket (see Fig. l).k The paper remainsin this position as illustrated in Fig. 1 While the wrapping rolltravels from the loading position, illustrated at the bottom in Fig. lto the discharge position illustrated at the top. A shield 52 preventsdisplacement of the assemblies from the pockets 22. The end of theshield adjacent the discharge is spaced a greater distance from theroll, as a-t 54.

The pockets of the wrapping roll are provided with ejector mechanismsimilar to that heretofore described in connection with the transferroll. As shown, an ejector bar 56 is arranged in each pocket (see Fig.2). The ejector bars are carried by rods 58 whichy pass through openings60 in the shell of the drum. The inner ends of rods 58 carry a pin orshaft 62 on which is mounted a pair of rollers 645-. Rollers `64 engagecam 66 (see Figs. 1 and 2) to raise the ejector bar flush with thesurface of roll 2.0. As the assembly is raised, the offset end 54 of theshield prevents its displacement. A spin roll 68 is mounted over thewrapping roll, and it rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. It alsorotates at a higher surface speed than the wrapping roll. It is providedwith asurface covering 70 of foam rubber, or other elastomer. Whenejector bar 56 reaches a position iiush with the surface of the wrappingroll, the assembly has been pushed into the covering of the spin roll.The assembly is rolled forwardly over the surface of the wrapping rollcausing it to be completely wrapped by the portion of the paper strip onthe roll preceding the pocket 22. Adhesive that had been applied to thepaper by conventional means (not shown) as the paper was fed to thewrapping roll causes the strip to adhere, forming a composite filter tiprod with the outer wrapping 3'. The composite filter rods are deliveredby their own momentum to a plate '72.

Thus, the aligned filter plugs, with alternate plugs of different typesto produce a composite filter rod shown in Fig. 7, or othercy-lindricalarticles to be Wrapped into 4a unit vin end to` end arrangement, aredelivered by transfer roll 12 or other suitable apparatus to the pocketsof the transfer roll with the strips of paper or other ilexible wrappingmaterial previously arranged on the surface of the roll, and over thepockets provided in the surface for the reception of the units orassemblies to be wrapped. By forcing the wrapping material at the rearof the pocket around the material in the pocket and having the excessvin advance of the pocket, the rolling of the assembly by the fastermoving spin roll completes the wrapping operation. The spin member maybe a roll, as shown, or a belt traveling tangent to the surface of thewrapping roll.

When the rolling of the assembly begins at approximately the point wherethe shield 52 ends, the portion of strip 3 in advance of the pocket isstill retained on the surface of the drum by suction. This preventsskidding of the assembly and insures rolling of the uncovered portionwithin the strip. As the composite rod reaches a point adjacent plate72, the openings 26 and 28 may be disconnected from the source ofsuction to facilitate transfer of the rod to the plate. Means forconnecting the ports 26 and 28 to a source of suction are well known inthe art and a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The ycomposite filter rod of Fig. 7 consists of seven sections of filtertip length, the four sections 1 representing the portion of a filter tipthat is to be arranged adjacent the end of the cigarette portion properand the three sections 2 representing the portions which form the otherends or mouthpieces. Following the present practice, a half filtersection is removed from each-,end by cutting the rod at lines -4 and thetrimmed ends may be reused in the manufacture of the additional filtersections l, depending upon the characteristics of the material beingused. The rod is then cut on the 'lines 5 to produce three rods each oftwo filter tips with inner filter tip sections 1 on the outer ends ofeach rod, and a double outer filter tip section 2 between them. Thesedouble filter tips :are fed to a conventional cigarette-making machineand assembled between two tobacco sections to produce two cigarettes.

To prevent the filter tip sections from separating from each other onthe wrapping roll, the end walls of pockets 22 are beveled, as at 74(see lFig. 2). A slight compression is exerted on the filter tipsections to hold them in contact with each other.

I claim:

l. A method of wrapping a plurality of axially aligned rod-like articlesdisposed in a group comprising the steps of providing a moving carrierhaving a plurality of pockets, sequentially disposing strips of paperover the pockets so that a given strip overlaps a mating pocket and sothat margins of the strip extend beyond the mating pocket, holding onemargin more firmly than the other, delivering groups of aligned articlesto the pockets in sequence so that a given group and a correspondingstrip are poised over the same pocket simultaneously, utilizing thegroup of articles to push the strip into the pocket and to move saidother margin relative the pocket so as to envelop at least one half thecircumference of each article of the group and to position said marginadjacent the edge of said pocket, ejecting the half wrapped group fromthe pocket and thereafter rolling the strip and the group to utilizesaid one margin to fully envelop the group'.

2. Apparatus for wrapping a plurality of axially aligned rod-likearticles comprising a moving carrier, a plurality of spaced pockets onthe carrier to receive the rod-like articles, means for deliveringstrips of iiexible wrapping material in sheet form to the surface of thecarrier and arranging each of said strips over one of said pockets with1a portion of the strip in front of the pocket and a portion `in therear of the pocket, means for projecting the aligned rod-like articlesinto a pocket over the strip and causing the portion of the strip in therear of the pocket to enter y the pocket around the rod-like articles,means for pro- 4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the surface of thecarrier is provided with a plurality of openings in front of and in therear of each pocket, and said openings are connected to a source ofsuction to retain the strips of material on the carrier.

5. The method of claim 1 in which said one margin is held by suction andthe suction exerted to hold the strip in front of the pocket is greaterthan that exerted in the rear of the pocket whereby when the alignedrodlike articles are delivered into the pocket on top of the strip, theportion of the strip in the rear of the pocket is caused to enter thepocket around the aligned articles.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which a greater area ofopenings is provided in front of each pocket than in the rear of thepocket to exert more suction on the strip in front of the pocket.

7. Apparatus in accordance With claim 2 in which an ejector bar ismounted in the bottom of each pocket, and cam means raise the projectorbar to the surface of the carrier at a point in the travel of thecarrier to project the 20 partially Wrapped rod-like articles from thepocket.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the completion of the wrapping isaccomplished on the surface of the carrier and is caused by contactingthe rod-like articles with a yielding surface traveling at a differentspeed from that of the carrier.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the means for rollingthe rod-like articles and wrapping strip on the surface of the carrierconsists of a moving, yielding surface spaced from the carrier adistance less than the diameter of the rod-like articles, and means tocause said surface to travel at a diierent speed than :the speed of thecarrier.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the means for rollingthe rod-like articles and Wrapping strip on the surface of the carrierconsists of a roll having a yielding surface spaced from the carrier adistance less than the diameter of the rod-like articles, and means forrotating said roll at a different speed than the speed of the carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,272,799 Greer July 16, 1918 2,624,164 Donofrio Jan. 6, 1953 2,749,692Conti June 12, 1956

